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1996 Chevrolet Camaro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Camaro.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Chevrolet Camaro is a passenger car requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for routine maintenance. With 144 total owner complaints recorded and 5 recalls, the Power Train system emerged as the primary concern area for this generation. When contextualized within the broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2023—where complaints peaked at 295 in 2010 and reached their lowest at 13 in 2022—the 1996 model occupies a middle position in terms of reported issues, placing it within a period of relatively moderate reliability compared to both earlier and later iterations of the Camaro lineup.

Model year2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215/60R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5-J; 8-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 12708762
Engine air filter	19259086
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301813 alt 12681664
Front wiper blades	22121694 discontinued
Serpentine belt	88986833 alt 19172684
Thermostat	12551507 alt 24506985

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	193.3 in
Overall width	74 in
Overall height	52 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	3466 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.6 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Camaro of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.7–7.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.70 sec — 1996 Z28 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1996	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.70 sec	14.10 sec	285 hp	RWD
1996	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.70 sec	14.20 sec	285 hp	RWD
1996	Z28 Convertible 5.7L V8	5.90 sec	14.20 sec	285 hp	RWD
1996	RS Coupe 3.8L V6	7.60 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	RWD
1995	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.70 sec	14.20 sec	275 hp	RWD
1995	V-6 Coupe 3.8L V6	7.40 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	RWD
1997	Z28 Pace Car Coupe 5.7L V8	5.50 sec	13.90 sec	285 hp	RWD
1994	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.40 sec	14.10 sec	275 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.6 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	22 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	74 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	18 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	10 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-606
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00-2.30 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	181-212 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	55.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	48-55

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs / 38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	74 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.006 in / 0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.787 in / 1.26 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 76

110 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	120 degrees	120 degrees
3	turn 30

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16	67 degrees
3	Bolts 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17	80 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 mi	Shift Linkage (inspect)
At 7,500 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 Camaro sits at a notable inflection point in the fourth-generation record: complaints drop sharply from the 1995 peak of 269 to 144, yet remain well above the 1993 low of 42 and the 1997 figure of 77, while recalls hold steady at five and investigations at two. Technical service bulletins climb to 76, continuing a steady upward arc from 26 in 1993 that would reach 90 the following year, suggesting expanding dealer-level service activity even as owner-reported complaints recede. The top complaint categories — Power Train (19), Engine & Engine Cooling (16), Air Bags (15), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (13) — align with the generation's persistent mechanical and safety themes, and the 23 crash complaints and six fire complaints indicate non-trivial safety exposure. Compared with the surrounding model years, 1996 represents a moderate-risk midpoint: improved from the troubled 1994–1995 surge but not yet at the lower complaint volumes seen in 1997 and 1999. The data doesn't specify root causes for the complaint spike or decline. For a buyer, 1996 is a acceptable but not standout year — verify resolution of powertrain, cooling, air bag, and brake campaigns before purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

144

Owner complaints

23 involved a crash · 6 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95’96’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 144 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train19

Engine & Engine Cooling16

Air Bags15

Service Brakes, Hydraulic13

Fuel System, Gasoline11

Electrical System8

Visibility8

Steering6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 76 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
17-NA-073	2023-02-21	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Camaro. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 19259086 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301813

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Camaro take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Camaro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.